India scores 170 to set 64-run victory over Pakistan in T20 World Cup opener

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Group 1: India, 170-6, beat Pakistan, 106, by 64 runs Deepti Sharma takes 5-10 after Mandhana half-century This was a familiar World Cup story: India met Pakistan and for all the talk of history, handshakes and millions of eyeballs, the contest was settled with little drama by the team in blue. Smriti Mandhana started with 68 off 44 balls before Deepti Sharma cleaned up in the second half, taking five for 10 as Harmanpreet Kaur’s side began their tournament with a 64-run victory in Birmingham. Pakistan began well with both bat and ball; chasing 171, they ended the powerplay on 52 for one, Muneeba Ali sweeping hard. But Sharma, player of the tournament at last year’s ODI World Cup, built up the dots with her off-breaks and the danger of an upset quickly subsided. Pakistan struggled to launch spin, routinely finding fielders in the covers as they fell to 79 for six inside 13 overs. Sharma delivered away from the crease, too, running out Muneeba for 41 as Pakistan fell to their fourth consecutive Twenty20 defeat by India. Continue reading...

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Deepti Sharma took five wickets and India bowled out Pakistan for 106 to successfully begin their latest quest for a first Women's Twenty20 World Cup title on Sunday. Sharma spun out the last three wickets in five balls as India defended 170 and won by 64 runs in front of a heavily partisan Edgbaston crowd, a sell-out 18,814, a record attendance for a World Cup group match. Meanwhile, Bangladesh pulled off a record chase on the same pitch to win the Netherlands' first World Cup match.

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Smriti Mandhana's 68-run knock and Deepti Sharma's five-wicket haul helped India secure an impressive 64-run win over Pakistan in Group One of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup.